Glen Sather says he knows what's best for Derek Stepan. Shockingly, it happens to be what's best for Glen Sather.

Sather, the general manager of the New York Rangers, went on MSG Monday night and said that Stepan, the No. 1 center currently without a contract, should shut up and take the deal on the table, which is believed to be for two years and about $3 million annually. Stepan is looking for $3.5 million a year, and the Rangers are willing to go up to $3.2, according to the New York Post.

“It’s unfortunate that Derek has decided to listen to his agent instead of realizing that he’s in a situation that he’s going to get paid; it’s just not today,” Sather said. “I hope he starts to get a little wiser about this decision. Every day he misses is going to hurt him.”

“I don’t think Derek is gonna let this thing linger that long,” Sather said. “I don’t think he’s big enough of a fool to figure that (he) would sit out for a year, and it’s going to do (his) career any good.”

So Derek Stepan, a player in search of a fair contract, shouldn't listen to his agent, the man he pays to find him a fair contract. Nor, Sather implies, is Stepan capable of making his own decisions. Gotcha.

Here's a list of other people Derek Stepan shouldn't talk to:

1) Ryan McDonagh: The Rangers signed the 24-year-old defenseman to a six-year, $28.2 million contract earlier this summer. That's where a lot of the team's cap space went, and Stepan's paying the price. If he talks to McDonagh, he might get angry over not being the Rangers' top offseason priority. He probably shouldn't talk to Brad Richards, either.

2) Cody Hodgson. The Sabres' young center signed a six-year, $25.5 million contract at the start of training camp. At this point in their careers, Stepan is better than him in every way. Hodgson would give him the idea that he's worth more money. Avoid Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Taylor Hall, Tyler Seguin and Jeff Skinner, too.

3) His family and friends. They probably want him to make the best decision for himself, not necessarily the Rangers. There goes that.

4) Any other NHL teams. That could lead to an offer sheet. Just kidding.

5) Anyone at all, really. They might convince him he has leverage. Thanks to the RFA system, the salary cap drop and the Rangers' self-created budget crunch, he doesn't, except for the nuclear option of sitting out the season. Odds are, his agent wouldn't prefer that—so maybe Sather should hope Stepan lists to him, after all.